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CO2 emission trading
The European Commission aims to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 20 percent by the year 2020.
The European Union National Allocation Plan II (NAP II) applying to the period 2008–2012 envisages a 10 percent reduction in emission certificate volume throughout the EU in comparison to National Allocation Plan I levels.
The Austrian National Allocation Plan II was originally based on a forecast of CO2 emissions in Austria totalling 38.33m tonnes per year and annual savings of 5.53m tonnes of CO2 emissions. The total resulting allocation of free certificates for CO2 emissions amounting to 32.80m t per annum has been further reduced by the European Commission to 30.33m tonnes.
These guidelines represent a further challenge to industrial and utility companies in terms of reducing CO2 emissions and will impose a considerable financial burden derived from the necessity of purchasing additional certificates.
The Austrian electricity industry was allocated free CO2 emission certificates amounting to 7.7 million tonnes annually in the period 2008-2012.
EVN has been allocated about 1.58 million tonnes. The remaining 500,000-800,000 tonnes annually will either have to be saved or purchased.